body trends are exhausting (buccal fat removal & more) | Internet Analysis

internet analysis: buccal fat removal, plastic surgery, and body "trends" -- it's a lot!!

TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - intro
2:14 - what's the deal with buccal fat removal??
5:15 - the round-face revolution
6:50 - the ultra thin, gaunt aesthetic
8:07 - intent vs outcome (and fear of aging)
11:01 - "minimally invasive"
13:18 - the Overton window of normalized procedures is shifting
14:42 - my complicated feelings about cosmetic procedures
17:29 - the trend cycle of bodies and faces
18:46 - inventing insecurities
21:30 - wealth and privilege (the ability to do and undo)
23:36 - Kim Kardashian & aesthetic trend cycles
24:30 - surgery is much more feasible when you're ultra rich
28:46 - final thoughts

RESOURCES & REFERENCES:

TIKTOKS:

Tiffany Ferguson (she/her), 27 years old. #internetanalysis #plasticsurgery #buccalfatremoval

This episode was co-written by Sheriden Smith!

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links with * are affiliate, meaning I am compensated monetarily if you join or make a purchase.

[tiffanyferg]

hi hi!! welcome to the new year! I'm back with a discussion of buccal fat removal, plastic surgery, and body 'trends' -- let's discuss! (with compassion lmao)

[PaperParade]

You know, the nice thing about being poor is that I can’t even afford to take part in these trends. I’m forced to learn how to accept myself as I am.

[Sugarypop]

“Inventing insecurities” is such a well articulated phenomenon

[joannaellis]

The idea of a body trend cycle reminds of me of Bernadette Banner's videos where she talks about how in the 1800s people conformed to fashionable silhouettes by changing CLOTHES (corset shape, strategic padding, hoop skirts, etc.) while nowadays people conform to those trends by changing their actual BODIES

[daisyprayers]

My first thought whenever I see a procedure like this is “that’s probably a part of your body for a reason and should stay where it is”.

[Nalanzazu]

I have to admit that this Buccal fat removal trend only recently reached me. And it really really triggered me. When my aunt was dying of cancer and completely wasting away, she was still cracking jokes to try to lighten the mood. She was joking about finally getting the cheek bones she always dreamed of. But the truth was that her body was so consumed that she didn't have any fat left, even in her face. She died within a month.
I truly can't look at these gaunt "snatched" faces without grieving her.

[meeunice]

I'm ready for body neutrality. Just let people be themselves. Whether fat or skinny or inbetween. We're tired.

[bro.that.is.adorable.]

Pretty sure my mom’s “buccal fat” is what keeps her looking fairly young as a nearly 70-year-old woman

[charissesjournal]

i saw a comment on another video once that said, "being okay with your face and body is the strongest form of anti-capitalism" and i haven't been the same since

[louie]

you could definitely talk about orthorexia and the "gym bro" obsession with "health" (which is actually just disordered eating in many cases.) as a dude ive watched it basically ruin the lives of a few of my friends, with how much time they spend working out and obsessing over how they look. I feel like that gym culture of extreme "health", along with the whole thing doesn't get talked about very much but its so harmful

[marymurphy]

as someone who wants to have a child possibly one day, I always think about how if you've changed your whole face or gotten rid of your insecurity (like nose or chin or something) if you have a kid they can very likely have all those features that you've gotten rid of. just perpetuating that cycle. how do you explain to your kid that you had their nose and you hated it so much you spent thousands to get rid of it? I think when we look beyond ourselves and see that same feature on those we love- we can better learn to recognize that those features connect us in so many ways. my round face connects me to my mom. I have tiny eyelids that you can't do any eye makeup on, and its just like my sisters and my grandmas. faces are more than aesthetics.

[lacyroberts]

ER nurse here! When the BBL trend was in full swing, I had 3 different patients who came in for complications. All three required IV antibiotics for septic infections. All of them had to lay on their stomachs for months because of the pain it had caused them.

[slangoognals]

My biggest beef with plastic surgery is when people deny getting it, and then use their artificial appearance for social or financial gain under the claim that it came from something else, whether it's genetics or a product. We still don't know the extent of how fake the Kardashians are because they refuse to confess to more than 1 simple procedure each, and their looks are their brands so they wildly profit off the dishonesty. I can't blame someone for doing something that they believe will make them happier, but I fully blame them for muddying vulnerable people's connection to reality.

[Jen-hitg]

I've always had a round face and my whole life I wanted to remove my buccal fat because I didn't like the shape of my face... but this trend made me realise how much I preferred the celebrities with their natural face. It's scary to see all those stars doing it, especially because they already have a pretty thin face. They suddenly look like skeletons and unnatural. They all end up with the same face, it's just sad.

[flyingwaytooclosetothesun]

as an ED survivor, the gaunt look is something I used to strive for (and struggle with even now), accepting your body the way it is is so hard. Even painful sometimes. I wish it were easier, , I’m so proud of the ppl fighting these trends <3

[lynnburdick]

I just turned 60 this year and it's true about losing cheek fat. My face has thinned considerably over the years (I've also been a runner for the last 15 years) so getting this procedure done is just setting yourself up for future disappointment. Worry less about your looks and more about engaging with life - find happiness in things you do and accomplish and being with people you love.

[katarinahatch]

"Thinness" being back is really scaring me as a 20 year old college student. I can't imagine being an 14 year old on the forefront of watching Kim Kardashian reduce her size and cosmetic surgery being normalized. When that woman said she was "tired" of these body trends, I completely agree. I love my body the way it is right now and I am trying to keep it that way... i might do another tiktok break :)

[ShanaLawson]

I like the trend of “I’m exhausted by all this, I’m staying the same!” 🤷‍♀️

[abbysc]

I’m only 25 and I already have beauty burnout. My organic self is cute as hell and I have no desire to spend another 60+ years trying to mold myself into boxes.

[Monicalia]

I used to hate my nose and wanted a nose job so bad. I promised myself to get one when I got older. However, I got older and...completely forgot about that goal. I mean, I still didn't like my nose but I simply stopped caring about it. I unintentionally accepted my nose and now I don't want any procedure anymore.
I understand that sometimes surgeries can improve the quality of our lives (or genuinely make us look better), but doing them just for the temporaty and constantly changing trends is a giant mistake. Now we want thin cheeks, what if that buccal fat is considered attractive in the next couple of months?
I don't care which part of my body is The Ugly Part of The Month. My body is not made of plasticine, and I will not change it for social media strangers.